Album

Spreading the Disease

Released30 October 1985

Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗Deezer ↗Podcast cover

Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by Anthrax, the American thrash metal band, and it arrived on 30 October 1985. It came after their debut, Fistful of Metal, and marked a change in the line-up: it was the first record to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello.

It sits at the start of the band's run with that line-up, and it is a good place to hear them settle into their sound, a blend of speed metal, thrash and heavy metal. A two-disc edition marked its 30th anniversary in October 2015, which says something about how fondly the record is still held.

Spreading the Disease: tracklist, credits and charts

9 tracks · 43:47

Tracklist

1A.I.R.Belladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz5:45
2Lone JusticeBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz4:37
3MadhouseBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz4:20
4S.S.C. / Stand or FallBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz4:08
5The EnemyBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz5:25
6AftershockBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz4:29
7Armed and DangerousBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Lilker, Spitz, Turbin5:43
8MedusaBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Spitz, Zazula4:44
9Gung‐HoBelladonna, Bello, Benante, Ian, Lilker, Spitz, Turbin4:35

Produced by: Anthrax, Carl Canedy, Jon Zazula, Alex Perialas
Executive producer: Jon Zazula
Recorded at: Pyramid (Ithaca, New York)
Recorded: 1985
Mixed at: Pyramid Sound Recording Studios
Engineered by: Alex Perialas
Mastered by: Howie Weinberg
Artwork: Peter Corriston, Kent Joshpe, Charlie Benante, David Heffernan
Photography: Gary Gershoff, Neil Stopol, Frank White
Label: Megaforce Worldwide
Length: 43:47

Line-up

Frank Bello · electric bass guitar
Charlie Benante · drums (drum set)
Scott Ian · electric guitar
Dan Spitz · electric guitar
Joey Belladonna · lead vocals

Singles

“Madhouse” · 7 October 1985

Peak chart positions

Chart	Peak
US Billboard 200 · 1985	113

From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.

57.3

Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)

3.7k

ListenBrainz listeners

76k

Wikipedia views, last 12 months

13k

Deezer fans (all editions)

Also released on 30 October

It’s Christmas All Over

Goo Goo Dolls · 2020

More from Anthrax

Full discography →

The best of 1985

All of 1985 →

Fly on the Wall

AC/DC · 1985

Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!

Século X.X. / Bestial Devastation

Sepultura · 1985

The Sabbath Collection

Releases and pressings

How we know the release date musicbrainz + wikidata

Source	Date	Note
MusicBrainz	30 October 1985
Wikipedia infobox	October 1985
Wikidata	30 October 1985
US release	30 October 1985	earliest US date
UK / Europe release	1985	earliest UK or European date

19 editions

Date	Country	Label	Barcode	Kind
—	JP	Island	4988005688293	other
—	JP	Island	4988011333859	other
1985	XE	Megaforce Worldwide	4007192074761	other
1985	XE	Island	4007192620425	other
1985	XE	Island	4007192574766	other
1985	GB	Music for Nations	5016583106218	other
1985	GB	Island		other
1985	US	Island	075679048042	other
30 October 1985	US	Megaforce Worldwide	075679048011	original
25 May 1986	JP	Island	4988023000466	other
June 1990	GB	Megaforce Worldwide	042282666826	other
15 June 1990	US	Island	042282666826	other
25 August 1990	JP	Polystar	4988023012162	other
1997	JP	Island	4988011355523	other
2007	JP	Island	4988005472212	other
26 May 2010	JP	Island	4988005608024	other
20 November 2015	US	Megaforce Records	602547611406	deluxe
20 November 2015	XW	Island		deluxe
20 January 2016	JP	Megaforce Records	4988031131725	other

Cover art sources

deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)

Source	Size	Verdict
deezer ✓	1200×1200	upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
fanarttv	1000×1000	upscaled
coverartarchive	600×600	upscaled